Cabinet



Ap 1, 1952 G. E. LUNDINE 2,591,172

CABINET Filed April 19 7 v 3 Sheets-Sheet l G.Elbin q Lunc line attorney 3nneutor G. E. LUNDINE April 1, 1952 CABINET 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 15, 1947 3nventor G. E. LUNDINE April 1, 1952 CABINET 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 15, 1947 3nventor 6.1!) lying Lundine aim fig y? Gttorneg Patented Apr. 1, 19.52

CABINET Gustav- Elving Lundine, Jamestown, N; 35., assignorto Jamestown Steel lartitions, 1110., Fale coner, N. Y.,. a corporation of New York;

Anplica i ndpril l5, ,,S alNo- 7 15516 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a cabinet and more particularly toacabinet having'a number of shelves adapted forthestorage of: articles, and a door movable into a position to closer. the access opening thereof.

More specifically the invention is directed to the provision of a utility cabinetof such proportions'and construction as to'lend itself as a storagecontainer forsuch relatively small articles as food products, cleaning equipment, tools, etc., and to thisend it is an important object of the invention toprovide a cabinet that is inexpensive to manufacture and suffioientlyrugged to-stand alone and thus be locatableat any spot the user thereof may find most suitable.

It is another important object of the invention to provide a storage cabinet constructed from very few, easily assembled parts.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of' a storage cabinet constructed from parts that maybe assembled. without the aid, of special tools or other equipment and which thus lends itself to being packed and shipped to the placeof use in a knocked down condition.

A- further object of the invention, lies in the provision of a storage cabinet constructed from parts that are either identical, or so, related as to. facilitate their being interchanged, substituted, or-reversed.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a storage cabinet constructed from parts. that enable the assembly of a cabinet with the optional location of a number ofshelves, as well, as the optional swing of the door that closes the access opening.

A still-further object of the invention lies in the provision of a storage cabinet that is, assembled: from parts having such interfitting relationship as to-produce a strong, rigid, self-sustaining, and, attractive appearing structure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from a considerationof the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; and in which Fig. l is a perspective view of a storage cabinet embodying one form of. the invention, parts being broken away and sectioned to disclose certain of the structural details;

Fig, 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cabinetshown in Fig. 1, parts being broken away to show certain of the structural and assembly details;

F 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged. fragmentary perspective view showing the manner of engaging a shelf with the front portion of one of the cabinet sidewalls;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the manner of engaging a shelf with the rear cabinet wall;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of structure that includes the lower 2 pivot for the cabinet door, being taken substantially onthe line 6-45 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical S66? tional view of structure that, includes the upper pivot for the door, being taken, substantially on. the line l.-.1 of'Fig. l.

Fig. 8 is. an enlarged fragmentaryvertical: S801: tional view, being taken substantially-on the line- 88 of Fig. 3;

Fig. Sis an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 9--9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is, a fragmentary horizontal sectional view. taken. substantially on the line ill-I0 of Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view, partly in section,

showing means for springing the cabinet door into a closedposition; and

Fig. 12 is aviewt. similar to Fig. ll. Showin the means. springing the cabinetdoor into open posittion.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a cabinet. embodying the invention is shown to comprise a base In, side walls I I, l2, rear wall [3, top It, door it, and one or more slrielves H. he, base It, may e fo med. t am a singl sh of metal to have. upstanding sides {5. with integral, rounded, meeting edges such asthe corners t9 Stamp d i to the o t m of he a may be four; sha lo lu s 2| th t ser e t sl ghtly elevate the base from, the floor or the surface on which it is mounted. Fitted to the front wall l8, and extending he ful w h of the cab n t a s opening, as defined by, the side walls H and I2, is a sill plate 22. This plate, for convenience f. ass mbly nc udes a ca an 3 h is permanently attachedto the exterior face of wall It, Above the upper edge of the wall la the flange is offset inwardly int the sameplane as said wall and then bent into a horizontal sill 2 4. From the rear edge of the sill 2.4. is an upstanding doorike fl nge 5,-

The side walls H and I2 are identical reversed parts. of the structure and, therefore, only one.

will be described in detail, it being understood that the identifying reference numerals will apply to the corresponding parts of both walls. The wall I l comprises a flat'panel 21' that terminates along its vertical edges in right angle flanges 23 and 29. Flange 28 fornjis a shallow orshort front panel, and flange Z9 becomesaportion of the rear wall of the cabinet. .Each ofthfi e flanges has a spaced, return-bent flange by which to form edge reinforcing, bhannels 3| and 32 that will lie within the cabinet whenthe various parts are assembled. Channel 31 constitutes one vertical wall of the access opening of the cabinet. The lower edge of each of the walls It and i2 is provided with a finish strip 33 that is attached along its flange 34 somewhat above the lower edge of the wall. Below the dance 34, the strip is laterally offset to provide a narrow vertical epening 36, formed jointlyby the strip and the lower portion of the well. Of course, each of the finish strips for the side walls extends completely across the panels 21 to the edges of the front and rear flanges 28 and 23. It will be noted that these strips, when the cabinet is assembled, are in the same plane with the, flange 23 of the sill plate 22.

The rear wall l3 of the cabinet terminates along its vertical edges in inwardly set channels 31. Each of these channels includes flanges 38, 39, and 4|. The first two mentioned flanges are plain surfaced. However, flange is bent slightly inwardly toward flange 38 and terminates in a lip. 42. The disposition of flange 4| somewhat narrows the mouth of the channel opening and this flange acts as a spring clip to hold'two walls of the channel 32 in place. At suitableintervals, flange 39 of the edge. channel 3! is slotted to provide a plurality of free-ended tongues or tabs 43. These tabs may be bent inwardly of the cabinet from the plane of flange 39, as suggested at 33a (Fig. 5) to provide a seat for one of the depending flanges 44 of the shelf H. The lower edge of the wall I3 is fitted with a finish strip 45, similar to the strip ..33. This strip is attached along an upper flange portion 41 and spaced from the wall to provide a narrow vertical: recess 48. When the side and rear walls are assembled, the strips 33 and 45, together with flange 23 of the base, provide an attractive trim extending completely around the base it.

The top 14 may be formed from a single sheet of metal to produce down-turned flanges d5 which meet in integral rounded corners 5i. The flange 49 at the front of the cabinet mounts, on its inner face, a plate 52. Beneath the secured portion 53 of this plate is a horizontal flange 5d which includes end located apertures 55. A depending flange 56 serves as a stop for the door H5 at the top of the cabinet opening. As indicated in the drawing, the ends of this flange are cut away. A spring 5'! is so located and attached to this flange that the free curved end 58 thereof projects into the cut away area beyond the end of the flange and, as hereinafter brought out, is intended toserve as a means for urging the door 16 into a fully opened or fully closed position. As indicated in Fig. 10, the ends of the portion 53 of plate 52 are formed with inwardly extending flanges 59 that terminate in short, rightangle flanges 60. Each pair of flanges 59 and 60, with a portion of the flange 69, provides a shallow channel in which to receive a portion of the channel 3| that defines the front vertical edges of the side walls H and !2. The side and rear flanges 49 of the top it are each provided with an elongated clip or securing bracket ti.

Each of these brackets, as suggested in Fig. 9 of the drawing, may include securing flanges 52 and 63, joined respectively to the fiat portion of the top and flange 49. Beneath flange E53, the bracket is spaced somewhat from the flange d9 of the top to serve as a spring clip 64. The space 65, between clip 64 and flange 49, is adapted to receive a substantial portion of the upper edge of the plane portions of the side walls I i and i2 and rear wall l3 when the cabinet is all assembled.

All four edges of the door it may, as shown, terminate in inturned flanges 61. Corresponding top and bottom flanges, adjacent the pivotal edge, are fitted with reinforcing plates 88 that mountpivot pins 69. These pins are adapted to project through corresponding apertures 25 and 55, formed respectively in a flange of the sill plate 22 and a flange of the top plate 52.

One or more shelves 11 are adapted to be mounted in the cabinet, each consisting of a gene erally rectangular, article receiving area H, from which depend reinforcing flanges. For convenience and appearance, the front edge of the area H is recessed, substantially as shown, to approximately the width of the door opening.

For a fuller understanding of the advantages of the invention, assembly of the various :parts of the cabinet is set out as follows:

The base It is set on a flat surface and first one and then the other of the side walls H and I2 mounted thereon. In mounting these walls, it will be observed that the upstanding sides l5 of the base are adapted to be received in the narrow opening 35 provided along the lower edges of these walls. When the side walls have been moved downwardly onto the base to a point where they contact the body of the base,as'sembly of these parts is completed. It will now be noted that the exterior portion of the sill plate 22 bridges the gap between finish strips 33 to provide a continuous trim on three sides of the base. To mount the rear wall l3 it is first so positioned that the lower edge thereof is slightly above the rear flange l5 of the base and the channels 31 are aligned with channels 32 of the side walls. Channels 3'? are now snapped into receiving engagernent with channels 32. Of course, flanges M of the channels 3'! serve as full length spring clips to prevent inadvertent lateral disengage ment of these parts following assembly. The rear wall may now be forced downwardly to cause the narrow opening l8 to receive the upstanding rear wall 15 of the base. The rear wall is in'position of assembly when it top edge is flush with the top edges of the side walls.

The top I4 is next assembled on the side and rear walls by so positioning it that the openings 66 between the clip and flange 49 align with the top edges of the walls. The top is now forced downwardly onto these walls until the upper edges thereof contact the flat portion of the top. It will be noted at this point in the assembly of the cabinet that the side andrear walls may not become laterally displaced from each other by reason of the interfitting engagement therewith of the base it] and top id. Thus, the assembled structure, due to the spring action of the clips 64 of the top, the lower portions of the finish strips 31%, and the spring action of the channel flanges ii, is extremely rigid and is capable of being handled fully as well as any other storage cabinet in which the parts are permanently joined in any well known manner.

To assemble the door, the front portionof the top H3 is raised from its previously assembled position to an extent to give clearance beneath the top plate 52 for the upper pivot pin 69. The lower door pin is first projected into the opening 25 and the door swung into a position such that when the top is again moved downwardly into fully assembled position, the upper pin will enter aperture 55. It will be observed that by reason of the free ends of springs 57 being exposed, they have pressure contact with the inner top and botbend inwardly correspondingly positioned'tabs 14.3

in the channels 3l and 37. The edge flanges 44, when interfltted with these tabs, properly locate To mount one or the shelf. Inasmuch as many tabs 43 are provided, it is evident that not only any desired number of shelves may be mounted in the cabinet, but also that these shelves may be located as desired by a user for the storage of small or large articles.

Attention is directed to the fact that since both ends of the sill plate 22 and the top plate 52 are formed with identical pivot pin apertures, cut away portions, and locaters for springs, the door I 6 may be mounted to operate either right or left handed. If it is desired to reverse the position of the door from that shown in the drawing, it is merely necessary to slightly raise the forward portion of the top [4 to enable removal of the door. Following this, springs 51 are changed from one to the other end of their respective plates. The door is then turned end for end, the lower pin 69 thereof projected into aperture 25 and the upper pin aligned with aperture 55. When the top H is again brought into full engagement with the side walls, the door will be secured to function properly from the opposite hand.

Although applicant has shown and described only one modification of the invention, it will be apparent that variations in the details of the structure may be made and are contemplated insofar as they are within the spirit and scope of the invention as set out in the annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. In acabinet of the class described, side and rear panels, angularly disposed portions defining the front and rear edges of said side panels, complementary means on the edges of the rear portions and said rear panel adapted to interfit to form a continuous plane surfaced rear wall of said cabinet of greater width than said rear panel, a rectangular base adapted to be engaged by the bottom edges of said side and rear panels, a rectangular top having a continuous depending rim adapted to enclose the upper edges of said side and rear panels, the front portions cooperating with the front portions of the rims of said base and top to form an access opening, a door in said opening, and means carried by said base and top mounting said door for pivotal movement into opened or closed position.

2. In a cabinet of the class described, side and rear panels, angularly disposed portions defining the front and rear edges of said side panels, complementary interfitting channels extending inwardly from the edges of the rear portions of the side panels and the edges of said rear panel to provide a plane surfaced cabinet rear wall equal to the combined width of the rear side panel portions and said rear panel, a rectangular base adapted to be engaged by the bottom edges of said side and rear panels, a rectangular top having a continuous depending rim adapted to enclose the upper edges of said side and rear panels, the front portions cooperating with the front portions of the rims of said base and top to form an access opening, a door in said opening, means carried by said base and top mounting said door for pivotal movement, and spring means carried by said top operable to urge said door into fully opened or closed position.

3. In a cabinet of the class described, side and rear panels, angularly disposed portions defining the front and rear edges of said side panels, complementary interfitting channels extending inwardly from the edges of the rear portions of the side panels and the edges of said rear panel to provide a plane surfaced cabinet rear wall equal to the combined width of the rear portions of the side panels and said rear panel, a rectangular base having a continuous upstanding :rim, finish strips secured to and cooperating with the lower edges of said side and rear panels to provide recesses in which to receive portions of the rim of said base, a rectangular top having a continuous depending rim adapted to enclose the upper edges of said side and rear panels, door stop flanges on the front rim portions of said base and said top, said flanges being set inwardly of the cabinet to provide stops adapted to locate a door flush with the front portions of said side panels, said front portions and said base and top cooperating to provide an access opening, a door in said opening, means carried by said base and top mounting said door for pivotal movement, and spring means carried by said top operable to urge said door into fully opened or closed position.

4. In a cabinet of the class described, side and rear panels, angularly disposed portions defining the front and rear edges of said side panels, complementary interfitting channels extending inwardly from the edges of the rear portions of the side panels and the edges of said rear panel to provide a plane surfaced cabinet rear wall equal to the combined width of the rear portions of the side panels and said rear panel, a rectangular base having a continuous upstanding rim adapted to be enclosed by the lower edges of said side and rear panels, a rectangular top having a continuous depending rim adapted to enclose the upper edges of said side and rear panels, the front panel portions cooperating with the front rim portions of said base and top to define an access opening, shelf mounting means formed in the channels of the front and rear portions of said side panels, and a shelf having flanges engageable with said mounting means.

5. In a cabinet of the class described, side and rear panels, flanges on the rear edges of said side panels cooperating with said rear panel to form a continuous plane surfaced rear wall, complementary means on said flanges and the edges of the rear panel adapted to interfit to secure said side and rear panels in a position to form said plane surfaced rear wall, a rectangular base having a continuous upstanding rim for enclosing the bottom edges of said side and rear panels, a rectangular top having a continuous depending rim for enclosing the upper edges of said side and rear panels, said base and top, when assembled with said side and rear panels, serving to secure the complementary means and prevent relative displacement of all of said panels.

GUSTAV ELVING LUNDINE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 646,191 Pope Mar. 27, 1900 1,729,268 Henderson Sept. 24, 1929 2,014,55 Bulthuis Sept. 17, 1935 2,222,258 Haveles Nov. 19, 1940 2,424,217 Bales July 22, 1947 2,443,515 Rockwell June 15, 1948 2,486,548 Blazey Nov. 1. 1949 

